Chapter 24: Forging Alliances

Sanum was the first City-State to be created after the Irradiated Winter three hundred years ago. The Blood Elf, Crystal, appeared from within the Irradiated Forest and cleared the entirety of the mountain of Irradiation. This feat led to people from all over flocking to the mountain for any sort of respite.

In a few short years, what had once been a small farming community living off of the river flowing down the mountain became a leading figure in the world. The small town turned into a city. And with each passing year the houses got higher and higher on the mountain.

Crystal left Sanum and traveled the world, creating multiple City-States in precise locations. But throughout all of that time, Sanum continued to grow. It became the leading City-State in the entirety of Kronul.

Its reputation boomed.

And at its head was a simple Demi-Human that didn’t look the part. Carrying the Phoenix’s blood, Ordwell still looked like a normal human while wearing clothes, but beneath them was a wellspring of life that kept him alive for three centuries. Three centuries of life where he led the City-State of Sanum to prosperity.

Once the homes of the city's population reached towards the summit of the mountain, Ordwell decided to claim the land for the City-States government. On top of the mountain he had three buildings constructed.

One was the premier school of the city; the Sanum University. This large campus would serve as a place to train the next leaders of the City-State. It would also eventually become a way for other City-States to send their own future leaders to create connections while they were growing.

The second was a large military base. This base served as the headquarters to the Sanum City guards, who acted both as a military and a police force within the city.

The third building, easily the grandest, was the senate building. This senate building became the beating heart of Sanum. Within it, Ordwell would meet with the various senators in charge of the many facets of Sanum. These meetings resulted in new laws that determined how the city was run.

Nic found himself staring at the entryway to the Sanum senate building, his mouth agape at the grandness of the structure. He had seen the building from the University campus many times, but being in front of it made the building feel so much bigger.

Grand marble pillars lined the pure stone walls of the building. Windows were dotted along the walls, but curtains on the inside of them blocked any views into the building. The walls were intricately chiseled to be pleasing to look at.

He gulped down a stray breath as the two guards that had escorted their carriages up the mountain ushered them into the main foray. While the outside was pristine from the pureness of its stonework, the inside was pristine in its own way. Lavish rugs covered the floor of the reception hall. A counter stood alongside one wall with a receptionist standing behind it. The walls themselves were adorned with pictures of different members of the Senate.

Noticing one of Ordwell, Nic assumed that each person showed there was an important member. Below the pictures were a wide variety of small plants and tables, not that all unlike how Ordwell’s personal residence was adorned.

Across from the entrance doors were a grand set of double doors. It didn’t take much to know that these doors led into the main floor where the Senate sessions took place.

“They’re here to see the senate.” Nic heard one of the guards talking and looked over to see them and Sarman talking with the attendant behind the counter. It didn’t take long for the attendant to nod before quickly leaving her post and sneaking into the senate chambers.

“What’s she doing?” Nic walked over to Sarman as he asked the question.

“Letting father know that we are here to talk with the Senate.” Sarman leaned against the counter. “I don’t imagine that he will turn us away.”

“What’s our plan in there?”

“Simple.” Sarman pointed at Nic. “We’ll go in first with the assassin between us. Once we have gotten a reaction and confession out of Alberie, we can bring in the rest and make our case to the entirety of the senate.”

Having heard their discussion, Yuuki, Kayde and Aria walked over to the two of them and joined in.

“We’ll be waiting on standby then.”

“My daughter and I will act as the representatives for Aric for now. Nic, you are more of a wild card here. We don’t know how Sanum wants to treat you yet.”

Yuuki’s response was first. Short and sweet, she didn’t even question the logistics of the plan. Kayde on the other hand put in some small advice.

Nic was well aware of his nature as a wild card. While he wanted to just be a representative of Aric with Aria, it was natural for City-States to question his loyalties. He was the only person in the world that could purify Irradiation. If nothing else, Sanum’s senate was sure to want him to be their pawn instead of Aric’s.

“I understand Kayde. Thank you for the reminder, though.” Nic nodded in acknowledgement to the man. As he did, the door to the senate chambers opened again and the receptionist came back out.

“They’re ready for you.” She bowed her head to Sarman.

“You two,” Sarman motioned for the guards that had led them to the building. “Grab him and follow us in.”

The ‘him’ that Sarman was referring to was the man with a sack over his head. Sara was currently holding him with his hands behind his back, but quickly gave him up to the guards.

With their prisoner in tow, Sarman and Nic walked side by side into the senate chambers.

“Woah…” Nic found himself muttering in amazement under his breath as they walked down the stairs they found themselves at the top of.

The room was a large rectangular room that dipped down into the center. In the very center was a raised podium where Ordwell stood. The surrounding area was covered in seats for the different senators. Much of the room was empty, clearly having been made with the future in mind. There were far more seats than senators currently.

The senators that they did pass on their way down muttered under their breath as well. Nic was unsure whether that was because of Nic, Sarman, or their prisoner.

“Sarman? Nic? I see you two have finally returned. What is the meaning of your presence in the Senate hall?” Ordwell spoke up from the center of the room as Nic and Sarman descended to the center floor.

“Father,” Sarman spoke up in response. “We are here today because one of the people in this very hall is acting against Sanum’s best interest.”

The murmurs in the hall rose in noise at Sarman’s declaration. Nic stood stiff as multiple eyes were plastered on him. One of the senators spoke up in response.

“Are you implying that one of us is a traitor!?” Their shout caused a chorus of similar jeers to be shouted. Each one had fought hard for their position. The mere idea that they would be called traitors was an affront to the work that they put in every day.

“I didn’t say that it was necessarily a senator.” Sarman turned to the first one who had shouted at him. “In fact, I hope that it is merely an attendant or a trainee. But I do know that the culprit is in this room right now.”

His words hushed the room. The senators looked at each other. Those with sons and daughters shadowing them looked at their children, and those with attendants carefully second guessed their own retainers.

“This is a big accusation, Sarman.” Ordwell rubbed his temples as he talked. “I hope you have some evidence?”

“This man right here,” Sarman moved back to show the prisoner to his father. “He was a part of an attack on the former Rad-Town S-Oh-eight-six.”

Sarman pulled the sack off of the man’s head. The instant he did, Nic heard a gasp from a nearby man.

“John!?” A bulky man of similar size to Sarman had stood up in surprise. Nic looked him over, but found his attention drawn to the younger man sitting next to him. The two looked alike and were probably father and son, if Nic had to take a guess. Unlike the utter confusion on the father’s face, the son was full of hatred.

“As Mr. Alberie has clearly demonstrated, the force that this man was a part of all wore the family mark of the Alberie’s.” Sarman turned to face the shocked man himself. “Of course, Mr. Alberie, it is also clear from your expression that you had no idea this was happening.”

“Of course I had nothing to do with this! Why would I attack a Rad-Town like that?” Alberie spat out his response.

“Do you know what that Rad-Town called itself? Who was its founder and leader?”

Alberie faltered and let out a stammered response. “N-n-no…”

“Then let me enlighten you. The newly founded City-State that is situated on the other side of the Irradiated Forest is named Crystallia. That name is in honor of its founder, and first queen, the Blood Elf Crystal. A founder and leader who is now dead, thanks to the work of this man right here.”

Sarman left the room quiet. Nic wasn’t quite sure what had actually quieted the room. Was it the news of a new City-State? Or the news that Crystal had been its leader? Her death? Her killer?

It was a lot for the room to take in.

But once they did, chaos erupted. Shouts came down about all four of the things that Sarman had said. Senator Alberie was being hounded by those around him. His son sank further and further into his own seat, avoiding the ire of those around them.

The sound of wood knocking on wood spread through the room. Ordwell was clapping two pieces of wood together to make enough sound to get everyone’s attention. It took a minute, but once the senators finally quieted down, Ordwell spoke up.

“That is a lot to accuse the Alberie family of, but you also said you don’t think that the culprit is a senator. Who are you truly accusing, Sarman?”

Sarman walked towards the section of the room where Alberie was sitting. His gait was relaxed, yet a small flame was lit in his palm. Nic could just barely see it as Sarman walked past him.

Sarman walked straight up to the lowest seats, just to the right of Senator Alberie, in front of the man who looked similar to the senator.

“Rudy Alberie. You were the one who sent the force to Oh-Eight-Six, right?”

The senator’s son stood up. A look of pure frenzy was plastered on his face as he leaned into Sarman’s face.

“For the dawn of a new day!” With the words leaving his mouth, a knife appeared in his hands. It plunged towards Sarman’s neck.

Nic took a step towards his friend as he saw the black miasma oozing off of the sword. He was stopped by the display of fire that enveloped Rudy Alberies hand and the knife.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” With a loud scream Rudy fell into his seat grasping his burned arm in pain. From the tips of his fingers to the elbow of the arm, large burns covered every part of exposed skin.

A flaming salamander had appeared on Sarman’s shoulders, flames licking its mouth.

But Nic tuned out everything else.

His eyes were on the knife that had fallen to the floor.

His eyes were drawn to the black miasma still being released by the weapon.

Nic knelt down and grabbed the knife in his hands. The instant he did, the darkness within it tried to force its way past his hand.

Nic let it in.

In the instant he did, the darkness was obliterated. Purified into harmless energy that became nothingness as it dissipated through Nic’s body.

Nic held the now normal knife up to Ordwell.

“On top of the charges we have brought against him, Rudy Alberie has also attempted to attack the son of the minister of Sanum with a knife brimming with Irradiation. Is this not enough to get this council to act?”

Nic’s question only got an irritated sigh from Ordwell.

“This council will go on recess for now. You,” Ordwell pointed to one of the guards that had brought in the assassin. “Grab that knife and Rudy Alberie and follow me. Sarman, Nic and Paul, come with me as well.”

Ordwell let the senate meeting go on break and began walking up towards the entrance doors.

As a group they soon found themselves in the main entrance foyer to the building.

In front of another group of people.

Ordwell groaned as he saw everyone else’s face.

“You all really came up with an elaborate scheme, didn’t you?”

“Hahaha! Don’t say that!” Kayde spoke up as he slapped one of Ordwell’s shoulders. “The rest of us are here to speak with you as well. It’s somewhat related to what I believe just happened on the senate floor?”

“Fine, come with me as well.”

With a final order for the soldiers to bring the two prisoners to the nearby military base, Ordwell led everyone else through a set of side doors.

They walked down a long hallway, doors leading to offices lined the hallway with decorative plants between them. At the end was a final set of double doors that led into Ordwell’s office in the building.

The office itself was fairly large, easily big enough to handle the eleven extra people that were piling into the room.

“Ordwell listen, I-” Paul Alberie was the first to speak up, presumably trying to separate himself from his wayward son, but he was cut off by Ordwell raising one of his hands.

“Don’t worry, Paul. While your son will be tried for what he did, I’ll make sure it doesn’t get dragged back to you. Like my own son here, from what I saw on the senate floor, I don’t think that you had any involvement.”

Ordwell’s words caused Paul’s shoulders to relax yet his face remained contorted in pain. It would be hard for anyone to learn that their child was going against everything they believed.

“I understand…” Senator Alberie was about to walk out of the room in defeat when one Yuuki and one of the other ambassadors from Crystallia stopped him. “Hmmm? What is it?”

“While it seems like Rudy’s actions are being accounted for on the Sanum side of things, the city of Crystallia still has their own charges they want to bring against him as well.” Yuuki was the one who spoke up, standing directly between Alberie and the door to the office.

“Yuuki?” Her response had clearly caught Ordwell off guard as he stood up in confusion while calling out to her.

Nic had moved to stand besides Aria and Kayde when they had entered the room. At this moment, he spoke up while stepping forward.

“Mr. Chapman, I think that now would be a good time for introductions for our guests from Crystallia.” Despite the confused looks that he got from Ordwell and Alberie, Nic continued. “And it would be the perfect time for us to tell you why both representatives from Aric and Crystallia are really here in Sanum.”

Nic’s words left everyone silent. For those that had come from Aric, this was fully expected.

Their plan all along.

They couldn’t guarantee how the senate would act with the accusations against Rudy Alberie.

So they had made two plans. One where this happened on the Senate floor and one where it happened here.

“Fine.”

Ordwell acquiesced to the request from Nic. He started the introductions, followed by Paul Alberie and Sarman. Kiara and Sarah were up next in the list, as they were both from Sanum proper. Nic introduced himself as a wandering entity, currently unassociated with any City-State.

Aria introduced herself as the first representative of Aric before her father’s introduction would shake the unaware.

“Kayde Towsend, head representative for the City of Aric. However, today I come with a second title as well. Today I’m also the acting head of the newly formed Alliance of Free City-States.”

Kayde’s words caused Ordwell to audibly fumble over his words as he struggled to utter a response.

“A-A-a-a-alliance!?”

“I am Linda, representative of Crystallia and attendant to our Queen.” Linda bowed her head, completely bypassing Ordwell's current surprised nature.

“Catherine, ambassador for Crystallia.” The crystalline next to Linda was quick and curt, not giving a second of empty air.

“And I’m Luke, the current representative of Crystallia as part of the Alliance of Free City-States.”

As Ordwell continued to stammer over his words, the only one left to introduce themselves was Yuuki. She took a deep breath and looked at Sarman for reassurance before speaking.

“Last, but certainly not least, is me. I now come before you, Minister Chapman and Senator Alberie, as Yuuki Ito, Queen of Crystallia.”

Yuuki bowed in a way that Nic knew she had been practicing for a few days now. It was a low bow, one of royal proportions. Apparently she had been told that it was something she had to do as Queen of Crystallia from Linda.

On the other side of the room, Ordwell fell into his chair with a loud thump. His face had lost all emotion as he simply stared ahead.

He had been shocked too much.

A second later he rubbed his temples and spoke up again.

“Did you just say that you were queen of Crystallia?”

His question was directed solely at Yuuki.

“I am, yes.”

“What am I going to do?” Ordwell spoke quieter. “How am I going to tell the Shogun about this?!”

“If you are talking about father, you don’t need to worry about that.” Yuuki twitched her ears as she spoke. Even if he had been trying to talk to himself, she heard everything.

“What?”
“I plan on traveling to Kyoku soon. I shall explain everything myself then. So you don’t need to worry about it.”

Yuuki’s words did little to actually placate the concern on Ordwell’s face, but he apparently decided to move past it as he turned to Kayde.

“What’s this about an Alliance then? Why create it now of all times? What is it for?”

Kayde stepped up to Ordwell’s desk and motioned for Nic to stand by him.

“Jack’s attack on Aric. His attack on Sanum. The recent incident in the Irradiated Forest. And the attack on Crystallia that ended in Crystal’s death. Do you know what all of these had in common, Ordwell?”

“No, I can’t say I do.”

“They were all orchestrated by the same people.”

Ordwell’s face filled with surprise. When he looked over at him, Nic simply nodded in agreement before placing a stack of papers down.

“This is an entry from the journal of one of my ancestors, the Blood Elf Crystal Verilo. She knew about this group because they are led by a clone of hers. This clone, Ruby, is hellbent on creating a second Irradiated Winter.”

Nic pushed the papers towards Ordwell and let him flip through them. The room stayed quiet with only the sound of shuffling papers being heard.

“This is a bit hard to just accept. But I take it then that this Alliance was made to combat this group?”

“That’s right.” Nic stepped back as Kayde answered Ordwell.

“There’s one other thing, father.” Sarman took Nic’s space.

“Sarman? What is it?”

“This group killed the Blood Elf Crystal using poison.”

Ordwell’s gaze grew stronger as Sarman continued to speak.

“I was there when it happened. Salamander couldn’t stop the poison.”

“...” Ordwell’s silence weighted everyone down. They all knew what Sarman was about to say.

Their ace in the hand.

The one thing they knew would work to bring Ordwell and Sanum into the alliance.

A truth that would give Ordwell the chance he had been looking for.

“Salamander has only seen that poison once before… twenty years ago…”

A fist slammed down on the table. Everyone could feel the rage emanating off of Ordwell.

“The last time Salamander saw it, was when mother was killed.”